Lighting fixture



March 23, 1954 R. Moss LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 14, 1949 VENTOR.

March 23, 1954 R. MOSS LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1949 INVENTOR. 1 2 Q2 1771 M0 55 BY M 522 Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STAT TT OFFICE 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to illuminating devices and is directed. particularly to lighting fixtures particularly designed for installation in business establishments although, of course, not necessarily confined to such use.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a lighting fixture which is of extremely simple design and adapted to be easily installed as well as serviced after installation, a particular feature of the fixture residing in a novel refiector unit structure which makes possible the removal and installation of a single incandescent bulb by the employment of a standard bulb snatcher.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture of the recessed type having a reflector unit of novel construction, supported in a novel manner whereby it may be easily and quickly removed for cleaning or other purposes, when necessary, by the detachment or removal of a single retaining element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a recessed ceiling lighting fixture having a refiector formed with a central downwardly directed truncated conical portion which is received upon a supporting tube secured to a conventional metal outlet box and maintained in poition by a retaining ring which is threaded ontothe end of the tube, which extends downwardly from the outlet box through said conical portion, and through which the base portion of the light bulb is extended.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a lighting fixture of the character stated, a novel downwardly directed reflector in the central portion of which a single light bulb is positioned, in association with an auxiliary reflector hanging from the first reflector concentric relation with the light bulb and functioning to cut off light rays projected directly downwardly from the bulb, so that a complete indirect lighting is obtained from the device.

()ther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the follov ing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and ad partly in section of a lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the same in mounted position and with certain parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a view on a reduced scale of the fixture in top plan, parts thereof being broken away.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section on an enlarged scale through the central part of the fixture showing particularly the novel manner of mounting the reflector dome and the cooperating circular reflector body.

Figure 4 is a view looking upwardly into the fixture, with a portion broken away.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section through an edge portion of the fixture and the adjacent portion of a ceiling.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-45 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 'll of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional detail of the frusto-conical portion at the ring engaging edge thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will be seen that the fixture comprises a supporting or mounting frame which-is generally designated it and which in the simplified form here illustrated comprises two relatively wide, substantially U-shaped strap iron units I I which are arranged in right angular crossed relation, that is, each unit has the long base portion a and the shorter side or leg portions 1), the ends of which are directed downwardly when the structure is installed. Also forming a part of the mounting or supporting structure is an annular band 82 which encircles the leg portions '1) of the two units l i and is secured to the same at the ends thereof as shown and this band [2 has the short outwardly directed flange !3 at its bottom edge which. facilitates the maintenance of ceiling plaster i i in place when the fixture is installed. The band I 2 may be referred to as the plaster ring but it form an integral part of the frame structure of the lighting fixture.

The long central or base portions or of the units ii are crossed intermediate their ends and may be secured together by welding or other suitable 5 cans and they have formed through them an opening is through which extends the usual or conventional electric wiring nipple 66 which extends through the bottom of and is secured to a conventional metal outlet box ii. The units H can optionally be secured to a conventional outlet box by two screws.

Any suitable means may be provided for securing the frame structure it in position as, for example, it may be secured to supporting beams or joints l8 forming a part of the ceiling construction or it may be mounted in any other satisfactory manner. The manner of mounting the structure is immaterial so long as it is so placed that the lower edge or lower face of the flange 13 of the plaster ring is in the plane of the ceiling surface.

The outlet box I? carries a standard or mogul porcelain socket is which is of circular external form and projects downwardly as shown. In this socket is received the screw base .of a standard or mogul electric light bulb 25, the type used in association with the present fixture being that having the lower half of the bulb silvered so that downwardly directed light rays are cut off or thrown back upwardly toward the overlying reflector, about to be described. Inside frosted bulbs may be used by fitting a diffusing lens in the flange 29.

Fitted over the socket I9 is a relatively long metal sleeve 2|. The upper end of this sleeve abuts against the metal cover of the outlet box where it is secured by welding as indicated at 22, or in any other suitable manner.

The lower end of the sleeve 2| is externally screw threaded and has threaded thereon a metal collar or ring 23, the function of which is to support the reflector dome as hereinafter described.

As shown the length of the sleeve 2: is such that the collar carrying end is at an elevation a substantial distance above the plane of the ceiling surface in which the lighting fixture is mounted.

Positioned within the frame structure id is a circular reflector bowl which is generally designated 24 and which is bordered by the outwardly and upwardly curving lip 25 which covers the edge of the plaster ring and bears upon the ceiling surface as illustrated.

This bowl 24 curves upwardly from the outer edge to substantially the full depth of the frame structure in which it is positioned, and then curves downwardly toward the axial center of the fixture to form a central downwardly extending or directed hollow frusto-conical central portion which is designated 24a. This frusto-conical central portion has an annular edge 26 defining an opening 21.

When the bowl 24 is placed in position within the frame structure it the threaded lower end portion of the sleeve 2|, minus the ring 23, projects through the opening 21 and the ring 23 is then applied to the end of the sleeve and threaded up until it engages the edge 26. Thus the single ring element 23, supported by the sleeve 2|, holds or secures the reflector bowl in position, and pulls the lip 25 firmly against the ceiling forming perfect contact without bulges or dents usually prevalent when reflector is held by screws or bolts.

Cooperating with the reflector bowl and encircling the lower half of the bulbous portion of the incandescent lamp 29, is a reflector collar which is generally designated 28. This collar is of circular form and tapers downwardly as shown and has at its bottom edge the relatively narrow inwardly directed flange 29.

The top or wider end of the reflector collar 28 is of a diameter materially greater than the diameter of the bulb portion of the incandescent lamp as shown and the reflector collar is suspended concentrically with the bulb and with the portion 24a of the reflector bowl, by a series of chains 30, or in any other suitable manner. The reflector is maintained at an elevation where the plane of the top edge, designated 28a is slightly above the plane of the lowermost part of the bowl 24 and the height of the collar 28 is such that when suspended in this manner the plane of the flange 29 will be considerably below the lowermost part of the light bulb 20.

While any suitable means may be employed for supporting the reflecting collar 28 the means here shown and preferred for use, comprises a series of small brackets 3!, preferably three, secured to the inner face of the reflector adjacent to the top edge thereof as shown and each having a keyhole slot 32 therein in which is engaged one end of a ball chain hanger 38 of the character illustrated.

The other end of each ball chain hanger 36 is engaged in a keyhole slot 33 formed at a suitable distance above the edge 26 of the frustoconical central portion 2 3a.

It will be readily apparent that there is provided in the present invention a lighting fixture of extreme simplicity and, because of the novel manner in which the reflector bowl is mounted, it will be seen that the howl may be easily and quickly taken down and replaced if and when necessary since it is held in position by the single securing member comprised in the ring 23 which is threaded upon the hanging sleeve 2 l It will also be apparent that with the lighting fixture of this kind replacement of the bulb may be effected easily and quickly by means of a standard bulb snatcher thus making it unnecessary to use ladders or scaffolding for this purpose.

Because of the novel form of the reflector bowl 2 3 it has been found that no visible amount of dust collects on the reflecting surface even after use of the fixture over a relatively long period of time.

While it will, of course, be understood that a fixture of this kind may be made in practically any size desired, it has been found that for use in business establishments such as department stores highly efiicient indirect lighting is obtained by use of fixtures having a diameter of approximaately 42" and placed on 10' centers. Although the fixture is recessed into the ceiling the construction is such that it provides an even non-directional lighting pattern which avoids dark ceilings or unlighted or darkened areas and gives perfect light distribution. Since this fixture is highly eflicient in any size, it provides perfect desirable indirect lighting for homes as well as business.

I claim:

1. A lighting fiixture of the character set forth comprising a concave reflector bowl having its central part extended axially forward from the concave face in the form of a frustum of a cone, the apical part of the cone having a central opening, a tubular sleeve positioned in and coaxially of said frustum and having an end projecting through said opening, a support for the bowl, means securing said sleeve at its inner end to said support, an incandescent lamp socket housed in the said rear end of the sleeve to receive the threaded end of an incandescent bulb extended axially into the sleeve through the said projecting end of the sleeve, means removably secured to the said one end of the sleeve and engaging the edge of said opening to maintain the bowl in operative position, and an electric wire junction box housed in the cone and secured to the support, said box having a removable cover plate and said sleeve having its rear end secured to said cover plate.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a mounting frame including an annulus and two arched members secured at their ends to the annulus and extending thereacross in crossed relation with one another, an incandescent lamp socket, means securing the socket at the crossing center of said arched members on the concave side of the arches, a circular concave reflector bowl encircled by the annulus and positioned with its major portion on the side of the annulus adjacent to the arched members and in the space between the plane of the annulus and the arched members with its concave face directed away from said members, the bowl having the central portion thereof extended axially forwardly from said concave face in the form of a truncated hollow cone open at its smaller end, said open end being aligned and concentric with said lamp socket, and means detachably coupling together the said end of said cone and said socket whereby the mounting frame and bowl are operatively connected together.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2, wherein the diameter of the bowl is approximately equal to the inside overall diameter of said annulus, and said bowl having a surrounding lip lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said cone and forwardly of said cone end, said lip being outside of said bowl diameter and having an overall diameter greater than the major diameter of the annulus whereby the annulus is covered by the lip.

RALPH MOSS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,108,453 Macbeth Aug. 25, 1914 1,256,749 Wefel Feb. 19, 1918 1,275,362 Bakula Aug. 13, 1918 1,283,162 Guth Oct. 29, 1918 1,304,387 Sechrist May 20, 1919 1,331,494 Garfunkel Feb. 24, 1920 1,732,171 Simmons Oct. 15, 1929 1,743,851 Guth Jan. 14, 1951 

